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By Waterford City & County Council

Waterford City & County Council approves €750,000 loan to Mount Congreve

Mount Congreve

Waterford City and County Council today (Friday, September 13th) approved a loan of €750,000 to Mount Congreve to support its ongoing efforts in developing and sustaining the renowned gardens.

Mount Congreve is managed by a Trust comprising of voluntary Board members nominated by the Council. The funding approved today will assist the Trust in completing capital works for additional accommodation units and in covering cash-flow losses suffered this year.

In recommending the loan to the Council, Sean McKeown, Chief Executive of Waterford City and County Council reassured the Elected Members that this decision would not negatively impact the delivery of Council services, emphasising that the funding would be sourced from underspend to date this year in both the Council’s revenue and capital budgets. This arises from savings from a number of areas, including unfilled staff vacancies and delays in the delivery of some capital projects.

The Chief Executive informed the Council that Mount Congreve is currently facing significant financial challenges, due to lower-than-expected visitor numbers, owing mainly to the relatively poor weather this summer, and higher than forecasted operating costs.  He said there are upwards of 30 people employed at Mount Congreve.  Mr. McKeown acknowledged the decision was a challenging one for the Elected Members, but he asserted his firm belief this was the right course of action. He said Mount Congreve is recognised by Failte Ireland as a ‘catalyst project’ for regional tourism development.

Welcoming the Council’s decision, the Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Jason Murphy said, “I am delighted the funding will enable completion of the accommodation units, which will provide Mount Congreve with a critical additional revenue stream. Tourism is a critical sector for Waterford, and we want to enhance the contribution of the sector to our local economy. This funding demonstrates our ongoing commitment to growing tourism in Waterford.”

Waterford City and County Council currently provides an annual subvention of €100,000 per annum towards the operation of Mount Congreve and the level of subvention for next year will be considered by the Elected Members as part of the budget discussions for 2025, which get underway in earnest next month.

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By Waterford City & County Council

Attention Council Tenants : Annual Social Housing Assessment

Annual SSHA

Waterford City & County Council is currently undertaking its annual Social Housing Assessment.  

If you are an approved housing applicant, whose file was not reviewed since 5th July 2023, and you are not on RAS, HAP or the leasing scheme, you will receive a letter outlining what you need to do to complete the online form.

Please complete the relevant form below, answering all the questions.  If you need a paper form, you can obtain this by using the contact information in your letter. 

To ensure you remain on the Housing waiting list, please confirm any changes to your circumstances, or confirm if no change of circumstances, by completing this form.    

If you are no longer interested in receiving Social Housing Supports, and you wish to be removed from the Housing List, fill out this form.

All forms and supporting documentation must be submitted online, or returned by post by close of business, Friday 29th September 2024.

PLEASE NOTE: THESE FORMS ARE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY ON THE HOUSING LIST.

By Waterford City & County Council

CUISLE CEOIL : Commemorative Concert celebrates Ardmore’s bygone Irish College

A special commemorative concert featuring Cór Fear na nDéise male voice choir will take place in St. Paul’s Church, Ardmore on Friday, September 27th.

Organised by the Irish Office of Waterford City and County Council, the concert will feature songs that were sung in Coláiste Deuglán, a thriving Irish College that existed in the seaside village of Ardmore one hundred years ago.

Cór Fear na nDéise will be joined by the Ardmore Community Choir and by children from the local national school, Scoil Náisiúnta Deuglán Naofa, for this special event.

One hundred years ago, in July 1924 one of the founders of Coláiste Deuglán, Mícheál Ó Foghlú published a booklet entitled ‘Cuisle Ceoil’, a collection of songs of the Déise, which he had gathered on his travels as a Conradh na Gaeilge ‘timire’, or organiser. The booklet was published as the songbook for those attending the Irish college, which stood next to the current Round Tower Hotel. The concert is being organised to commemorate the Irish College and the songs that were learned by avid Irish language learners in the new Free State.

“Through funding from the Creative Waterford programme, we are delighted to be able to organise this special commemorative concert in memory of Coláiste Deuglán,” says Irish Officer, Máire Seó Breathnach.

“The Irish language was in use as a community language in Ardmore until the middle of the last century and Coláiste Deuglán was an important cultural and linguistic fulcrum in the village from 1920 until the mid-1940s. I am delighted that Cór Fear na nDéise will interpret the songs from Cuisle Ceoil and that the local community and school choirs in Ardmore will be joining them. This concert is a fabulous way to inform the younger generations of the culture and traditions of Ardmore in times past and bring those songs to life again in the fabulous venue that is St. Paul’s Church.”

The Cuisle Ceoil concert will take place in St. Paul’s Church on Tower Hill, Ardmore at 7.30pm on Friday, 27th September. Tickets are priced at €10 and are available on Eventbrite  at https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/1012828004827/ or search for Cuisle Ceoil, or by e-mailing gaeilge@waterfordcouncil.ie.

By Waterford City & County Council

CUISLE CEOIL : Coirm cheoil i gcomóradh ar Choláiste Gaeilge na hAirde Móire fadó

Tionólfar coirm cheoil speisialta comórtha le Cór Fear na nDéise in Eaglais Naomh Pól san Aird Mhór, Co Phort Láirge ar an Aoine, 27 Meán Fómhair.

Beidh amhráin a bhí le clos i gColáiste Deuglán, Coláiste Gaeilge rathúil a bhí lonnaithe i sráidbhaile cois cósta na hAirde Móire céad bliain ó shin, mar dhlúthchuid den gcoirm cheoil seo, atá á n-eagrú ag Oifig na Gaeilge de Chomhairle Cathrach agus Contae Phort Láirge.

Chomh maith le Cór Fear na nDéise, beidh Cór Pobail na hAirde Móire agus páistí ó Scoil Náisiúnta Deuglán Naofa san Aird Mhór ag canadh ag an ócáid speisialta seo.

Céad bliain ó shin, i mí Iúil 1924, d’fhoilsigh Mícheál Ó Foghlú, duine de bhunaitheoirí Choláiste Deuglán, leabhrán dar teideal Cuisle Ceoil’, bailiúchán amhrán na nDéise a bhailigh sé agus é ag taisteal mar thimire de chuid Chonradh na Gaeilge. Foilsíodh an leabhrán mar leabhar amhrán dóibh siúd a bhí ag freastal ar Choláiste Deuglán, a bhí lonnaithe in aice leis an bhfoirgneamh ina bhfuil an Round Tower Hotel sa lá atá inniu ann. Tá an coirm cheoil seo á n-eagrú mar chomóradh ar an gColáiste Gaeilge agus na hamhráin Ghaelacha a d’fhoghlaim lucht foghlamtha na Gaeilge ann i mblianta tosaigh an tSaorstáit.

“Le tacaíocht ó chlár Éire Ildánach Phort Láirge, tá áthas orainn an coirm cheoil speisialta seo a eagrú mar chomóradh ar Choláiste Deuglán,” arsa Máire Seó Breathnach, Oifigeach Gaeilge na Comhairle.

“Bhí an Ghaeilge fós in úsáid mar theanga pobail ag daoine áirithe san Aird Mhór suas go dtí lár an chéid seo caite agus bhí Coláiste Deuglán mar chroílár na Gaeilge agus an chultúir Ghaelaigh sa tsráidbhaile ó 1920 go dtí lár na 1940daí. Tá áthas orm go mbeidh Cór Fear na nDéise ag canadh amhrán ón leabhrán Cuisle Ceoil agus go mbeidh na cóir áitiúla pobail agus scoile san Aird Mhór ar an gclár chomh maith. Is slí iontach é an coirm cheoil seo chun cultúr agus traidisiún na Gaeilge san Aird Mhór fadó a chur ar a súile dos na glúnta níos óige agus beocht a chur sna hamhráin úd arís san ionad álainn, Eaglais Naomh Pól.”

Beidh coirm cheoil Cuisle Ceoil ar siúl in Eaglais Naomh Pól, Ard a’ Mhinistir, Aird Mhór ar a 7.30i.n. ar an Aoine, 27 Meán Fómhair. Cosnaíonn ticéidí €10 agus tá siad ar fáil ar Eventbrite ag an nasc https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/1012828004827/, nó lorg Cuisle Ceoil, nó trí r-phost a sheoladh chuig gaeilge@waterfordcouncil.ie.

By Waterford City & County Council

Samhain returns to celebrate the myth and magic of Ireland’s ancient Halloween traditions

 

Waterford City and County Council and Fáilte Ireland are dead excited to announce the return of Samhain, a celebration of the folklore, magic and myth of Ireland’s ancient Halloween traditions.

Throughout the October Bank Holiday weekend, Waterford city will be awash with a fusion of spooky, spectral and bewitching events under the watchful eye of An Dearg Dua, a 2,000-year-old female vampire with binding Déise connections.

On Friday, October 25th award-winning street spectacle creators, Spraoi, returns to streets of Waterford with a stunning shadowy Samhain procession and finale performance.  Themed Fire and Shadows this year’s procession is inspired by An Dearg Dua, a unique piece of Waterford folklore.

Born in Waterford during the Iron Age, An Dearg Dua is the quintessential vampire.  Her behaviour, as an undead, stems from personal tragedy brought about by her father’s greed and ambition, plus the callousness of the chieftain she was forced to marry.  The Dearg Due, or Dearg Dur, is said to translate from ancient Irish as the Red Thirst or Red Bloodsucker.  Another version of the name is even more chilling, An Dearg Dúth which simply means The Red Black which could be interpreted as living blood that dies.

The Fire and Shadows procession will commence at approximately 7.30pm, adjacent to the Irish Wake Museum in Waterford’s Viking Triangle and weave through the streets with its audience towards the city centre for its blood-curdling finale!

In addition to the fang-tastic Samhain procession, Waterford city will play host to a flurry of fun, family-friendly concerts, food stalls, tales and treats from October 25th to October 27th.

Full details of Samhain will be announced in the coming weeks as Ireland’s Oldest City transforms to bring the story of Samhain to life and celebrate Ireland as the Home of Halloween.

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Image : Waterford’s ’Fire and Shadows’ themed October Bank Holiday Weekend celebrates Halloween in Ireland’s Oldest City with Samhain inspired events.

By Waterford City & County Council

Closure of Public Offices

CSD public offices in City & Dungarvan will remain closed until 10.00am (normal opening would be 9.30am) to facilitate staff training on the following dates:

  • City – Friday, 27 September 2024
  • Dungarvan – Monday, 30 September 2024

For more info email contact@waterfordcouncil.ie

 

By Waterford City & County Council

Farmer feels the Burn!

A farmer was convicted and fined a total of €4,450 at Lismore District Court earlier this month.

The farmer was prosecuted by Waterford City and County Council for the illegal disposal of waste by burning on Monday, September 2nd.  The farmer pled guilty to the case heard at Lismore District Court, sitting in Dungarvan, of an offence under Section 32 of the Waste Management Act 1996 of managing waste in a manner likely to cause environmental pollution.

The farmer was caught burning farm plastics, household and other wastes in his farmyard in March 2023.

Paul Flynn, Environmental Inspector, giving evidence for Waterford City and County Council outlined that there were “mechanisms open to farmers to dispose of their farmyard plastic in an environmentally-friendly manner, so they don’t have to burn it.”

Judge Power hearing the case commented, “This is a very serious issue in the times we live in with global warming, and this will only add to the problem.”

The farmer was fined €500 plus costs, including outstanding fire service charges of €3,950.

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By Waterford City & County Council

New Chief Executive of Waterford City and County Council outlines vision for Waterford

 

Sean McKeown took up the role as Chief Executive of Waterford City and County Council on August 21st.

Originally hailing from Armagh, McKeown has close links to the South East, with a distinguished career in local government having served most recently as Director of Planning, Economic and Environmental Services at Kilkenny County Council.  Prior to that, he was Interim Chief Executive of Kilkenny County Council for just over 15 months, following the retirement of Colette Byrne.  He has also served as Director of the South East Action Plan for Jobs and Head of Enterprise and Economic Development with Kilkenny County Council.

On moving to his new role, McKeown said, “It really is an exciting time for Waterford. There is an ambitious pipeline of projects and strategies in place, and I want to continue the strong momentum in delivering on them, building on the excellent partnership in place with the elected members here in Waterford City and County Council.

“Waterford is in a great place right now, full of opportunity, from being one of the fastest-growing counties in Ireland and benefitting from significant investment in placemaking initiatives, through to the establishment of SETU and being voted in recent years by the Irish Times as the Best Place to Live in Ireland. I am working right now with the Council team and the newly elected members to develop a Corporate Plan that sets out our shared vision, objectives and priorities for the next 5 years.”

Some of these objectives include consolidating Waterford as the driver of the regional economy, further strengthening the appeal of Waterford by the provision of affordable housing and continuing tackling vacancy and dereliction, the implementation of the soon to be adopted Destination Experience Development Plan to strengthen Waterford’s position as a key tourist destination, enhancing effective stakeholder engagements to ultimately deliver the best outcomes for the people of Waterford and driving climate action and the transition to low carbon service delivery.

Sustainability is at the heart of achieving these objectives.  With Waterford City designated a Decarbonising Zone (DZ), the DZ projects include building energy efficiency, sustainable transport, renewable energy generation and carbon sequestration.

McKeown stated, “While Waterford City and County Council must take the lead, climate action requires the collective involvement of everyone. I will strengthen our leadership credibility by ensuring early delivery of our Climate Action Plan, maximising Council-led initiatives under the SEAI Pathfinder Programme and continuing the drive towards modal shift and active travel, in our transition to a carbon neutral city by 2040.”

Having set out a number of ambitious projects and initiatives that Waterford’s new Chief Executive intends to drive with Waterford City and County Council, McKeown added, “I firmly believe we mustn’t forget about the basics. I will also have an eye to consistent delivery of fundamental services, such as road maintenance, street cleaning, tree planting and landscaping. These are essential for a well-presented city and county.

“I will also strive to ensure Waterford continues to be Ireland’s cleanest city including under IBAL litter surveys, and that we continue to maximise funding schemes to tackle vacancy and dereliction, and the regeneration of our rural towns and villages.

“In essence, Waterford as ‘Ireland’s Best Place to Live’ is a status that I and all the Council team are committed to upholding.”

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Image: (Noel Browne)

By Waterford City & County Council

Bestselling author Andrea Mara in conversation at Central Library

The most recent Writers at Waterford Libraries event took place on Saturday, September 7th with bestselling crime writer Andrea Mara in conversation with Acting County Librarian, Mary Conway at Central Library on Lady Lane.

Mara, a number one Sunday Times, Irish Times, and Kindle bestselling author spoke about her latest book ‘Someone in The Attic’, which was published earlier this year.

The packed audience was given an insight into Mara’s writing process, a sneak preview of her next book, and Mara also spoke about the thrill of having one of her books, ‘All Her Fault’ made into a TV series. The series, produced by US-streaming service Peacock, will be filmed in Melbourne and star Australian actress Sarah Snook of “Sucession” fame.

Mara’s first book ‘The Other Side of the Wall’ was published by Poolbeg in June 2017, followed by ‘One Click’ in 2018, and her third ‘The Sleeper Lies’ came out in February 2020.  ‘All Her Fault’ was published in July 2021, ‘Hide and Seek’, and ‘No One Saw A Thing’ followed, and her latest book ‘Someone in The Attic’ was published by Transworld / Penguin Random House.

Mary Conway, Acting County Librarian, Waterford City and County Council, thanked all those who attended, saying, “This was a hugely insightful event into how a bestselling author consistently creates compelling and gripping contemporary crime fiction.  Andrea’s outline of her writing process was also fascinating and one that I’m sure many budding crime-writers will implement.”

To find out more about upcoming Author events at Waterford Libraries, visit www.waterfordlibraries.ie

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By Waterford City & County Council

National Heritage Keepers Programme Opens For New Round of Applications

National Heritage Keepers Programme Opens For New Round of Applications

Discover the treasure on your doorstep!

Burrenbeo Trust is thrilled to announce that the latest round of the National Heritage Keepers Programme opens for applications on the 3rd of September. Over 150 groups and schools have completed the free programme to date. Heritage Keepers are now looking for community groups and senior classes of primary schools to take part in its highly anticipated fourth round.

Through a series of online workshops Heritage Keepers empowers groups and schools to delve into their local heritage and provides funding to allow them to take positive action. Rather than seeking to separate built, cultural and natural heritage the programme works on the principle that all aspects of heritage are very closely inter-linked and that these aspects work together to create our distinctive Places.

In the previous year, 70 schools and communities participated in the programme, with the majority successfully completing local funded projects and actions. These actions included exhibitions, heritage trails, tree planting, podcast creation, booklets, wildlife ponds, oral history projects and ‘Place Celebration’ days. Funding for fieldtrips is also provided meaning participants get to visit local heritage sites in person rather than just learning about them online. Previous participants have highly praised the programme with one primary school teacher commenting “Its more than just talking about helping, its actually doing something”, and another participant saying “It definitely brought us together as a group and we are delighted with what we achieved”.

The programme consists of five engaging two-hour workshops, followed by dedicated support while completing the funded action. It opens for expressions of interest on the 3rdth of September, with options to begin this autumn or in the New Year.

For those eager to learn more about this wonderful opportunity, an online information session is scheduled for Thursday, September 12th, at 7.30pm. Visit www.heritagekeepers.ie for additional details and to complete a brief application form (submission deadline: October 4th).

ENDS

For media inquiries, please contact: info@burrenbeo.com

By Waterford City & County Council

Uisce Éireann’s investment in Waterford removes water supply from ‘at risk’

Homes and businesses in Graiguenageeha will welcome the recent news that their water supply has been removed from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) list of vulnerable water supplies.

A targeted investment by Uisce Éireann including the installation of over 2km of new watermains to allow decommissioning of the Graiguenageeha Public Water Supply has ensured a safe and reliable water supply for homes and businesses. This investment has resulted in the supply removed from the ‘at risk’ list.

Prior to the investment, homes and businesses in Graigue
nageeha and surrounding areas received their drinking water supply from Graiguenageeha  Public Water supply. As the risks were identified on this supply a decision was made to decommission that plant and install the new watermain connecting to Stradbally Water Supply to cater for all customers.

Pat Duggan, Regional Drinking Water Compliance Manager at Uisce Éireann is proud of the team effort to deliver the works and have the supply removed from the EPA’s Remedial Action List (RAL).

“At Uisce Éireann we are fully committed to identifying and addressing risks to drinking water quality. Our key focus remains the protection of public health through the provision of safe, clean and secure water supplies for local communities. This critical watermain installation ensures ongoing compliance with drinking water regulations and significantly reduces the risk of future water quality issues”.

The significant project involved the installation of 2.3km of watermains connecting the network to the Stradbally Water Supply and decommissioning of Graiguenageeha.

Laura Heneghan, Infrastructure Delivery Programme Manager at Uisce Éireann said “it is a great privilege to deliver this critical project for the people of Graiguenageeha”.

“With the works now complete this project ensures the continued delivery of safe, clean drinking water to homes and businesses there.  Uisce Éireann’s investment also unlocks growth and development potential in Waterford which will enable the local community to thrive.”

This investment is one of a number of projects being delivered to rationalise water supplies across Waterford. The programme also saw the upgrade of  more than 21km of old and damaged water mains replaced in Ballynageeragh (3.75km) , Cois Coille (3.75km), Monatarriff (4.2km), Clonmel (3.92km), Kerreen (2.97km) and Crehanagh to Garavoonne (1km) to ensure a reliable drinking water supply.

Uisce Éireann is responsible for delivering public drinking water and wastewater services for the people of Ireland. We are committed to enabling communities to thrive by continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support sustainable growth and development, providing safe drinking water, and enhancing the environment. To find out more visit the Uisce Éireann website at water.ie

Remedial Action List

The Remedial Action List identifies drinking water supplies that are at risk of failing to consistently supply safe, clean drinking water.

The presence of a supply on the Remedial Action List does not mean the water is unsafe to drink. In fact, over 99.7% of supplies remain safe to drink and do not present any risk to health. This list identifies supplies that the EPA deem as being ‘at risk’ and must be improved to ensure that water supplies continue to be safe to drink and are also secure in the future. Where drinking water quality deficiencies are found due to Uisce Éireann’s improved testing and sampling regime, a Boil Water Notice or Do Not Consume notice may be issued to protect public health.

By Waterford City & County Council

Over €1,000 up in smoke!

A woman was convicted and fined a total of €1,185 at Waterford District Court on Monday, September 9th.

The woman was initially issued a litter fine of €150 on foot of a cigarette butt discarded by the driver of her car.  However, after failing to pay the fine or engage with Waterford City and County Council, a prosecution under the Litter Pollution Act was initiated.

Judge Staunton, on convicting the woman said it was a clear case of someone failing to engage with the local authority, resulting in the initial fine being increased.  The woman, who did not attend the court, was fined €200, and legal fees and costs of €985 were awarded against her.

Niall Kane, Senior Executive Engineer in Waterford City and County Council, welcomed the ruling, saying, “Cigarette butts are the most common form of litter in both Waterford and indeed the world, with an estimated 4.5 trillion cigarette butts discarded every year.

“Over 50% of litter items identified in surveys carried out by Waterford City and County Council are cigarette related.  Cigarette butts are made of plastic cellulose and can take up to 13 years to decompose in the environment.  When they are not placed in a bin, they can wash down drains and end up in our rivers and seas, adding to the problems of microplastics and posing a real danger to people, wildlife, and marine life.”

 

By Waterford City & County Council

Comeragh Mountains Outdoor Recreation Strategy : Public Consultation

Comeragh Mountains Outdoor Recreation Strategy

Waterford City and County Council is in the process of developing the Comeragh Mountains Outdoor Recreation Strategy and Action Plan and has appointed Outscape to assist in the preparation of the plan.  This project is being funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) 2023 – Project Development Measure.

The purpose of the Strategy is to provide a vision for the development of quality, well-planned and sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities in the Comeragh Mountains, which will not only benefit local communities and economy, but also ensure the protection and conservation of this wonderful upland area.  The project output will consist of a 10-year vision and roadmap, including a high-level action plan with more detailed actions for Years One to Three.

Waterford City and County Council is inviting the views of local communities and general public on how recreation could be managed in the Comeraghs to allow us all to connect and engage with outdoor recreation in this region of natural beauty.

A public consultation event will be held in The Park Hotel, Shandon Rd., Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, X35 CC97 at 7p.m. on Wednesday September 11th.

Alternatively the Comeragh Mountains Outdoor Recreation Strategy survey can be completed online at https://arcg.is/WyfeW

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